U.S. patent number 10,746,936 [Application Number 14/874,491] was granted by the patent office on 2020-08-18 for adaptor for connecting a medical laser to a flexible waveguide or an articulated arm.
This patent grant is currently assigned to LUMENIS LTD.. The grantee listed for this patent is LUMENIS LTD.. Invention is credited to Eyal Benisty, Assaf Gelstein, Stanislav Kramer.
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United States Patent |
10,746,936 |
Benisty , et al. |
August 18, 2020 |
Adaptor for connecting a medical laser to a flexible waveguide or
an articulated arm
Abstract
A dual port switching apparatus (12) comprising a connection
part for mounting to a base unit (11), an input beam port to
receive a main laser beam from a base unit (11) in an input optical
path (22), a first output port (14) for connection to a flexible
wave guide, a second output port (15) for connection to an
articulated arm (16), and a switching element (56) moveable between
a first position and a second position to direct an input beam to
one of the first output port (14) and the second output port
(15).
Inventors: |
Benisty; Eyal (Kfar Hachoresh,
IL), Kramer; Stanislav (Haifa, IL),
Gelstein; Assaf (Haifa, IL) |
Applicant: |
Name |
City |
State |
Country |
Type |
LUMENIS LTD. |
Yokneam Ilit |
N/A |
IL |
|
|
Assignee: |
LUMENIS LTD. (Yokneam,
IL)
|
Family
ID: |
48537279 |
Appl.
No.: |
14/874,491 |
Filed: |
October 5, 2015 |
Prior Publication Data
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Document
Identifier |
Publication Date |
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US 20160025933 A1 |
Jan 28, 2016 |
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Related U.S. Patent Documents
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Application
Number |
Filing Date |
Patent Number |
Issue Date |
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PCT/IB2014/060704 |
Apr 14, 2014 |
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Foreign Application Priority Data
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Apr 15, 2013 [GB] |
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1306832.5 |
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Current U.S.
Class: |
1/1 |
Current CPC
Class: |
A61B
18/201 (20130101); G02B 6/3514 (20130101); G02B
6/4296 (20130101); G02B 6/4292 (20130101); A61B
2018/00017 (20130101); A61B 2018/00172 (20130101); A61B
2018/00744 (20130101); A61B 2018/00696 (20130101); A61B
2018/2025 (20130101) |
Current International
Class: |
G02B
6/00 (20060101); G02B 6/35 (20060101); A61B
18/20 (20060101); G02B 6/42 (20060101); A61B
18/00 (20060101) |
References Cited
[Referenced By]
U.S. Patent Documents
Foreign Patent Documents
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0093005 |
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Nov 1983 |
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EP |
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2169435 |
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Mar 2010 |
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EP |
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2570509 |
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Mar 1986 |
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FR |
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2012-239698 |
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Oct 2012 |
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JP |
|
Primary Examiner: Kahelin; Michael W
Assistant Examiner: Sahand; Sana
Attorney, Agent or Firm: ISUS Intellectual Property PLL
Mirabito; Anthony Jason
Parent Case Text
RELATED APPLICATIONS
This application is a continuation application of
PCT/IB2014/060704, filed Apr. 14, 2014, which claims priority to
Great Britain Application No. 1306832.5, filed Apr. 15, 2013.
Claims
The invention claimed is:
1. A method of visualizing a CO.sub.2 main laser beam selectively
emitted towards a target from either: i) an articulated arm having
a plurality of mirrors for reflecting the CO.sub.2 main laser beam
therealong, the articulated arm also capable of reflecting a
visible to the eye main guide beam therealong for visualizing the
CO.sub.2 main laser beam on their combined emission from the
articulated arm towards a target, or ii) a flexible hollow
waveguide having a cladding layer surrounding a hollow core
extending continuously widthwise between opposite inside surfaces
of the cladding layer in a transverse cross section of the flexible
hollow waveguide, the cladding layer having an interior cladding
layer reflective surface capable of propagating the CO.sub.2 main
laser beam therealong but unreliably propagating the visible to the
eye main guide beam therealong thereby precluding visualizing the
CO.sub.2 main laser beam on their combined emission from the
flexible hollow waveguide towards a target, the method comprising:
a) providing an upright base unit including i) a CO.sub.2 main
laser beam source for selectively emitting a generally vertical
CO.sub.2 main laser beam, ii) a visible to the eye main guide beam
source for selectively emitting a generally vertical visible to the
eye main laser beam collimated and co-propagating with the
generally vertical CO.sub.2 main laser beam to form a generally
vertical main beam; b) providing a dual port switching adaptor
having: i) a connection part for mounting to the base unit, ii) an
input beam port to receive the generally vertical main beam from
the base unit, iii) a first output port for connection of the
flexible hollow waveguide thereto, the first output port extending
at an angle relative to the input beam port, iv) a second output
port for connection of the articulated arm thereto, the second
output port extending substantially vertical in line with the input
beam port, v) an inlet port for connection of a visible to the eye
auxiliary guide beam source capable of selectively emitting a
visible to the eye auxiliary guide beam, vi) a switching element
moveable between a first position and a second position to direct
the CO.sub.2 main laser beam to one of the first output port or the
second output port, and vii) a beam combiner for directing the
visible to the eye auxiliary guide beam to the first output port
for passing along the cladding layer, the visible to the eye
auxiliary guide beam being offset from the CO.sub.2 main laser
beam; and c) providing a control unit to control movement of the
moveable switching element, activation of the CO.sub.2 main laser
beam source, activation of the visible to the eye main guide beam
source, and activation of the visible to the eye auxiliary guide
beam source, the method comprising the steps of: the control unit
causing moving of the moveable switching element to direct the
CO.sub.2 main laser beam to either the first output port or the
second output port wherein, on directing the CO.sub.2 main laser
beam to the first output port, the control unit activating the
visible to the eye auxiliary light beam source to direct the
auxiliary light beam to the beam combiner, the first output port
and into the cladding layer of the flexible hollow waveguide for
visualizing the CO.sub.2 main laser beam on their combined emission
from the flexible hollow waveguide towards a target, and on
directing the CO.sub.2 main laser beam to the second output port,
the control unit activating the visible to the eye main guide beam
source to direct the main guide beam for visualizing the CO.sub.2
main laser beam on their combined emission from the articulated arm
towards a target.
2. The method according to claim 1, wherein the switching element
comprises a mirror.
3. The method according to claim 2, wherein the mirror is moveable
in a linear direction between the first position and the second
position.
4. The method according to claim 3 comprising a linear actuator
operable to move the switching element between the first position
and the second position.
5. The method according to claim 1 wherein, in one of the first
position and of the second position the switching element extends
into the input beam path, and in the other of the first position
and second position, is spaced from the input beam path.
6. The method according to claim 1 further comprising a cooling
fluid connection to supply cooling fluid to the first output
port.
7. The method of claim 1, wherein the auxiliary beam source
comprises a red diode laser device.
8. The method of claim 1, further comprising the step of the
control unit causing the moving of the moveable switching element
to direct the main laser beam to the second output port.
Description
FIELD OF THE INVENTION
This invention relates to an adaptor for a medical laser unit, a
medical laser unit, a method of adapting a base unit for a medical
laser unit, a control unit for a medical laser unit and a method of
operating a medical laser unit.
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
Lasers have found a number of applications in medical procedures.
Using suitably focused and powerful laser beams, tissues can be
excised, ablated or cut with fine control and with reduced
bleeding. Example treatments are excision and vaporisation of
benign and cancerous growths and fibromas, and aesthetic
treatments. Conventionally, a CO.sub.2 laser is used as the source
of the beam producing light at a wavelength of 10.6 .mu.m. Because
this wavelength is not suitable for transmission through
conventional optical fibres, where it would be absorbed by the
silica, it is known to use either hollow flexible waveguides, or
internally reflective articulated arms, to direct the beam to the
site of operation.
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
According to a first aspect of the invention there is provided a
dual port switching apparatus comprising a connection part for
mounting to a base unit, an input beam port to receive a main laser
beam from a base unit, a first output port for connection to a
flexible wave guide, a second output port for connection to an
articulated arm, and a switching element moveable between a first
position and a second position to direct an input beam to one of
the first output port and the second output port.
The switching element may comprise a mirror.
The mirror may be moveable in a linear direction between the first
position and the second position.
The adaptor may comprise a linear actuator operable to move the
switching element between the first position and the second
position.
The adaptor may comprise an auxiliary guide beam source, and a beam
combiner to direct an auxiliary guide beam to the first output
port.
The first output port may be for connection to a hollow wave
guide.
The auxiliary guide beam may be controllable to direct the
auxiliary guide beam into a cladding layer of the hollow wave
guide.
The input beam port may define an input beam path extending
generally vertically, one of the first and second output ports may
extend substantially vertically in line with the input beam path,
and the other of the first output port and second output port may
extend at an angle relative to the input beam path.
In one of the first position and of the second position the
switching element may extends into the input beam path, and in the
other of the first position and second position, may be spaced from
the input beam path.
The adaptor may comprise a pressurized gas connection to allow
supply of pressurized gas to the first output port.
According to a second aspect of the invention there is provided a
medical laser unit comprising a base unit, the base unit comprising
a main laser source and a base unit output port, and an adaptor
according to the first aspect of the invention, the adaptor being
mounted on the base unit such that the input beam port is connected
to the base output beam port to receive the main beam from the main
laser source.
The main laser source may comprise a CO.sub.2 laser to provide the
main beam.
The base unit may comprise a main guide beam source and alignment
optics wherein the main laser guide beam may be aligned with the
CO2 laser beam.
The apparatus may comprise a control unit operable to control the
main laser source.
The medical laser unit may have a user input device to receive user
instructions and transmit instructions to the control unit.
The control unit is may be operable to control the switching
element.
The medical laser unit may be operable to detect if a flexible wave
guide is connected to the first output port.
If a flexible wave guide is detected, the control unit may be
operable to control the switching element to direct the CO.sub.s
laser beam to the first output port, and control the auxiliary
guide beam source.
The medical laser unit may comprised a pressurised gas source and a
pressurised gas controller, the control unit being operable to
control the pressurised gas controller to direct cooling fluid to
one of the first output port and an articulated arm.
According to a third aspect of the invention, there is provided a
method of adapting a medical laser apparatus, the medical laser
apparatus being a base unit comprising a main laser source and a
laser output port, the method comprising the step of providing an
adaptor according to the first aspect of the invention, and
mounting the adaptor on the base unit such that the input beam port
is aligned with the laser beam port.
Where the base unit comprises a control unit, the method may
comprise the step of connecting the control unit to the switching
element such that the control unit is operable to move the
switching element between the first position and the second
position.
The method may comprise the step of connecting the control unit to
the auxiliary guide beam source such that the control unit is
operable to control the auxiliary guide beam.
According to a fourth aspect of the invention there is provided a
control unit for a medical laser unit comprising a main laser to
generate a main beam, the medical laser unit having an adaptor
comprising a first output port, a second output port and a
switching element, the control unit being operable to receive an
operator input and move the switching element between a first
position in which the main beam is directed to the first output
port and a second position in which the main beam is directed to
the second output port.
According to a fifth aspect of the invention there is provided a
method of operating a medical laser unit comprising operating a
main laser to generate a main beam, and operating a switching
element to move the switching element between a first position in
which the main beam is directed to a first output port and a second
position in which the main beam is directed to a second output
port.
BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS
An embodiment of the invention is described by way of example only
with reference to the accompanying drawings wherein;
FIG. 1 is a perspective view of a medical laser unit,
FIG. 2 is a perspective view of an adaptor unit for the apparatus
of FIG. 1,
FIG. 3 is a perspective view of the adaptor of FIG. 2 with some
elements removed,
FIG. 4 is a section on line 4-4 of FIG. 3,
FIG. 5 is a view in direction 5 of part of the adaptor of FIG.
3,
FIG. 6 is a plan view of the adaptor of FIG. 3,
FIG. 7 is a exploded perspective of a support part of the adaptor
of FIG. 3,
FIG. 8 is a cross-sectional view of the adaptor of FIG. 7,
FIG. 9 is a perspective view on a larger scale of part of a
switching apparatus for use in the adaptor of FIG. 3,
FIG. 10 is a partly exploded perspective view from above of the
adaptor of FIG. 3 showing guide rails for the switching apparatus
of FIG. 9,
FIG. 11 is a perspective view of part of the adaptor of FIG. 2,
FIG. 12 is a partly transparent perspective view of part of the
adaptor of FIG. 2,
FIG. 13a is a section through a flexible wave guide,
FIG. 13b is a partially cut away perspective view of the wave guide
of FIG. 13a,
FIG. 14a is a section through the first output port of the
apparatus of FIG. 2,
FIG. 14b is a section through an alignment apparatus for the first
output port of FIG. 14a, and
FIG. 15 is a diametrical illustration of a cooling fluid system to
use with the apparatus of FIG. 1.
DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS
With specific reference now to the drawings in detail, it is
stressed that the particulars shown are by way of example and for
purposes of illustrative discussion of the preferred embodiments of
the present invention only, and are presented in the cause of
providing what is believed to be the most useful and readily
understood description of the principles and conceptual aspects of
the invention. In this regard, no attempt is made to show
structural details of the invention in more detail than is
necessary for a fundamental understanding of the invention, the
description taken with the drawings making apparent to those
skilled in the art how the several forms of the invention may be
embodied in practice.
Before explaining at least one embodiment of the invention in
detail, it is to be understood that the invention is not limited in
its application to the details of construction and the arrangement
of the components set forth in the following description or
illustrated n the drawings. The invention is applicable to other
embodiments or of being practiced or carried out in various ways.
Also, it is to be understood that the phraseology and terminology
employed herein is for the purpose of description and should not be
regarded as limiting.
Referring now to FIG. 1, a medical laser unit generally embodying
the invention is shown at 10. The medical laser unit comprises a
base unit 11 and an adaptor 12, which will be described hereafter
in more detail. The base unit 11 comprises a main laser source (not
shown), in the present example comprising a CO.sub.2 laser, to
generate a main laser beam with an output wavelength of 10.6 .mu.m.
As the main laser beam is in the infrared and so is not visible, a
main guide laser (not shown) is also mounted in the base unit 11 to
produce a visual main guide beam. Suitable beam combination and
collimation optics are provided such that the base unit 11 outputs
a main beam comprising the 10.6 .mu.m beam and the main guide beam
such that both beams are collimated and co-propagating. The base
unit 11 further comprises a control unit shown in dashed outline at
13 and a control screen 13a which is operable to display operating
information received from a control unit and to receive operator
input to the control unit to control the laser output of the
medical laser unit 10. The main beam and main guide beam are
transmitted to the adaptor 12. The adaptor 12 has a first output
port 14, for connection to a hollow waveguide, and a second output
port 15 for connection to an internally reflective articulated arm
16. The adaptor 12 has a switching element, described below, which
is controllable by the control unit 13 to direct the received main
beam to one of the first output port 14 and second output port 15
as directed by an operator. Although not shown, it will be apparent
that electrical connections are provided between the control unit
13 and the functional elements of the adaptor 12 so that the
operation of the adaptor 12 can be monitored and controlled as
appropriate. Where the adaptor 12 has a separate auxiliary control
unit, this may be connected to the control unit 13 such that they
operate as a single controller, preferably in a manner transparent
to the operator.
The adaptor 12 will now be described in more detail with reference
to FIGS. 2 to 8. The adaptor 12 comprises an opto-mechanical
chassis generally shown at 20. This is a solid, rigid body which
serves as a reference surface with fixed location stops onto which
other components can be mounted.
As seen in FIG. 4 to FIG. 6, the opto-mechanical chassis comprises
a main body 21 with a number of ports and recesses defined therein.
The main body 21 is milled from aluminium to provide suitable
rigidity, coefficient of thermal expansion and robustness.
Preferably, the surfaces are also finished, for example by
anodising, to produce a protective surface which has a matt texture
to diffuse potentially hazardous laser reflections.
Within the main body 21, input beam path 22 extends vertically from
a lower part of the body 21. First output beam path 23 and second
output beam path 24 lead to the first output port 14 and second
output port 15 respectively. First output beam path 23 is coaxial
with the input beam path 22 and second output beam path 24 is
inclined at an oblique angle relative to the input beam path 22.
The rigid body 21 has an output support part best shown at 25,
which has a third output beam path 26 extending therethrough which
is co-linear with the second output beam path 24. The support part
25 has an inclined connection face 27 which is perpendicular to the
third output beam path 26 and provided with mounting points 28.
Channel 29 extends in a linear manner into the main body 21 and has
an angled inner face 30. Input beam path 22 and first beam path 23
have respective openings 22a, 23a in the angled surface 30, and the
input, first and second beam paths 22, 23, 24 converge at point A
within channel 29.
To provide for an auxiliary guide beam as discussed in more detail
below, the opto-mechanical chassis 21 comprises an auxiliary guide
laser support 31 extending alongside the support part 25. The
support part 25 has an inclined rear surface 32 to support an
auxiliary guide beam combiner as discussed in more detail below and
a transversely extending auxiliary guide beam path 32a extending
towards a corresponding board in the auxiliary guide beam support
arm 31.
At an upper surface 33 thereof, the main body 21 is provided with
connection points 34 for connection to a beam combiner comprising
the second output port 15 to direct the beam to an articulated arm
16.
The opto-mechanical chassis 20 further comprises a vertical support
40, on which the main body 21 is supported. In this example the
vertical support 40 comprises a generally cylindrical body 41
defining an input beam port. An upper flange 42 engages a lower
surface 35 of the body 21 and comprises a plurality of apertures 43
through which bolts 44 may pass to be received in threaded
apertures (not shown) in the body 21. At the lower end the vertical
support 40 comprises an outwardly extending flange 45 with
apertures 46 therein to enable the vertical support 40 to be
connected to an optical bench surface 47 provided at the upper
surface of the base unit 11.
To switch the main beam, a switching apparatus or mirror assembly
is shown generally indicated at 50. The control switch comprises a
mirror mount 51 best shown in FIG. 9 which has a vertical support
plate 52. The vertical support plate 52 comprises a mirror support
arm 53 which is dimensioned to be received in channel 29. At the
end of support arm 53 there is provided a mirror support plate 54
which is inclined relative to the vertical support plate 52. The
mirror support plate 54 has a circular aperture 55 in which is
received a plane mirror 56, the reflective surface of the mirror
being directed downwardly and to the left as shown in FIG. 9.
Although the present embodiment uses a plane mirror, it will be
apparent that a curved mirror may be used if desirable, for example
for focussing or beam conditioning purposes.
To support the mirror 56, aperture 55 has an inwardly directed lip
57. Three recesses 58 are located within the lip 57 which receive
bearing balls 59, the bearing balls 59 defining a correctly aligned
surface. The mirror 56 when in position is supported by these
bearing balls 59. A retaining ring 60 is held in place by screws 61
against the back of the mirror 56.
To provide for sliding movement of the mirror assembly 50, the
opto-mechanical chassis 20 is provided with horizontally extending
guide rails 70, 71 disposed above and below the channel 29. FIG. 10
shows lower guide rail 71 in position and upper guide rail 70 in
the correct orientation for connection to the chassis 20. Upper
guide block 70a is slidably mounted on the upper guide rail 70, and
lower guide blocks 71a, 71a are slidably mounted on the lower guide
rail 71. Vertical support plate 51 is connected to the guide blocks
70a, 71a, 71b such that the mirror assembly 50 is moveable
lengthways of the channel 29.
To provide for controlled sliding movement of the mirror assembly
50, in the present example a linear actuator is provided comprising
a stepper motor 72 connected to a threaded rod 73 extending through
a suitable threaded nut 77. Driving the stepper motor 72 causes the
rod 73 to rotate and hence causes linear movement of the nut 77 and
mirror assembly 50. To avoid motor cleaving or motor sticking, the
connection between the mirror assembly 50 and nut 77 preferably
comprises a spring or flexible element to provide a degree of
freedom between the mount and actuator. In the present example,
each step of the stepper motor moves the mirror assembly by 13
.mu.m. Screw 76 has a distal ball end located to provide an end
stop for the mirror assembly 50.
The mirror assembly 50 is thus movable by the linear actuator
between first and second positions. In the first position, the
mirror 56 extends between the input beam path 22 and second output
beam path 24, such that the main beam is reflected into second
output beam path 24. Ideally, the mirror surface passes through
point A in FIG. 4. In the second position, the mirror assembly is
offset from the beam paths 22, 23, 24 such that the beam passes
from the input beam path 22 to the second output beam path 24.
To provide for detection of the position of the mirror assembly 50,
optical sensors 74, 75 are provided to confirm when the mirror
assembly 50 is in the first position or second position.
The first output port 14 for connection to a flexible wave guide
and the auxiliary aiming beam will now be discussed with reference
to FIGS. 11 to 14. FIG. 11 is a perspective view of the
opto-mechanical chassis 21 showing the output port 14 and the
auxiliary guide beam support 31. As seen in FIG. 11, the first
output port 14 comprises a cylindrical element 80 with a flange 81
at one end which is connected to the angled surface 27 of the
opto-mechanical chassis 21 by bolts 81a received in threaded bores
28. A wave guide connection port 82 is mounted at the opposite end,
protected by a lid 83. The auxiliary guide beam source is shown at
84 comprising a red laser diode with its associated electronics
mounted in a single element. The auxiliary guide beam 84 is mounted
on a support plate 85 which is adjustably connected to the support
31 by adjustable bolts 86. As shown in FIG. 12, the auxiliary guide
beam source 84 is directed at a beam combiner comprising an angled
mirror 88 supported at the inclined rear surface 32 such that it is
set at approximately 45.degree. to the cylindrical part 80 and the
auxiliary guide beam source 84. The angled mirror 88 is positioned
such that the aiming beam is directed into the second output port
14 and the main laser beam, when directed through first output beam
path 24, passes through the mirror 88 substantially undeflected and
into third output beam path 26. It will be apparent that the beam
acts to combine the main laser beam and auxiliary guide beam when
the first output port 14 is in use.
An end part of a flexible wave guide as used herein is shown in 90
in FIG. 13a and FIG. 13b. The flexible wave guide 90 has a hollow
core 91 within a silica substrate 92. The inner surfaces of the
silicate substrate 92 are coated with a reflective surface 93, in
the present example an interface film of silver deposited on the
inner surface of the silicate substrate, and then a silver iodide
coat deposited on the silver interface film. The silica substrate
92 is surrounded by a protective polymer coating 94.
As the auxiliary guide beam will not be reliably propagated down
the hollow core 91, in the present example a guide beam is provided
by directing the auxiliary guide beam into the silica substrate 92.
The bolts 86 are adjusted such that the aiming beam is offset from
the main beam as illustrated in FIG. 14a. Referring to FIG. 14a the
end of the flexible wave guide is held in a connector 95, and the
beams are aligned in such that the main beam 96 is directed into
the hollow core 91 and the auxiliary guide beam 97 is offset from
the main beam 96 and enters the silica substrate 92. The alignment
can be carried using an apparatus such as that shown in FIG. 14b,
where a dummy fibre holder 98 is used having the same dimensions as
the waveguide holder 95. A conventional optical fibre 99 is held
within the dummy fibre holder 98 such that the end 99a of the fibre
99 is at the same offset position as the silica cladding 92 of the
flexible wave guide 90. A photodetector 100 is used to measure the
light coupled into the alignment fibre 99. Accordingly, the bolts
86 can be adjusted to vary the direction of the auxiliary guide
beam 97 to maximise the signal at the photodetector unit 100 to
confirm that the auxiliary guide beam is correctly aligned.
To provide cooling, a cooling fluid system is provided, in the
present example a pneumatic cooling air system. A suitable cooling
system is shown diagrammatically in FIG. 15. The base unit is
diagrammatically illustrated at 11 and a pneumatic control
apparatus is shown at 110. A distributor is shown at 111 which can
receive pressurized from an internal compressor 112 provided within
the base unit 11, or from an external source 113, which may be an
external tank or an external pneumatic supply system. The
distributor 111 is under the control of the control unit in the
base unit 11. A first pneumatic connection 114 leads from the
distributor 111 to an air chamber 115 located in flow communication
with the wave guide connection part 82. A second pneumatic
connection 116 is connectible to external flexible air tubes shown
diagrammatically at 117 which extend along an outside surface of
the articulated arm 16 and direct air towards an accessory or
control element at the distal end of the articulated arm 16, for
example to be connected to an air inlet of the accessory. The
supply of cooling fluid amongst other advantages helps to cool the
flexible wave guide, when working at high energies, and also blows
smoke or debris away from the operating point of the laser. Where a
higher air flow is required, particularly for using a flexible wave
guide at high energies, the internal compressor 112 may not be
sufficient and the connection to an external source 113 is
desirable. Although in the present example suitably filtered and
dry compressed air is used, it will be apparent that any other
suitable gas or gas mixture may be used.
The present invention is particularly advantageous in that it
permits an existing medical laser unit 10 to be retrofitted with an
adaptor 15 to provide more flexible operation. Accordingly, a
medical laser unit 10 may be adapted by removing pre-existing
articulated arm or flexible wave guide connection, and attaching an
adaptor 15 to an optical bench part of the base unit 11 as
described herein. The method of adapting the medical laser unit may
also include connecting the optical wave guide connector part 82 to
the control unit, and connecting the auxiliary guide beam laser 84
to the control unit. The actuator is similarly connected to the
control unit. In the present example, the adaptor 15 is provided
with an auxiliary controller 120 mounted on the optical chassis 21,
and the auxiliary controller 120 is operable to transmit and
receive information to the controller, and control the linear
actuator and auxiliary guide beam laser in response to instructions
from the controller. Similarly, the pneumatic distributor 111 may
be controlled by the auxiliary controller 120 or entirely
controlled by the main controller. In operation, the controller may
detect the presence of an optical wave guide, or be informed of the
presence of the optical wave guide by the auxiliary controller 120
and present options to the operator on the screen. If the operator
selects the flexible wave guide, then the auxiliary guide beam
laser is actuated, and the actuator is operated to move the
switching apparatus to the first position. In the first position,
the main laser beam is directed to the first output port 14 and
into the flexible wave guide, and the auxiliary guide beam is
directed into the silica cladding of the flexible wave guide as
discussed herein. The pneumatic distributor 111 is operated to
supply air under pressure through the flexible wave guide as
discussed above.
Similarly, if the operator selects the articulated arm, the linear
actuator is operated to move the mirror assembly to the second
position. In this position, the main laser beam and the guide beam
are unobstructed and pass through the input beam path, second beam
path and are reflected within the articulated arm. Similarly, the
pneumatic distributor is operated to supply pressurized air to the
articulated arm connection. The auxiliary guide beam laser is not
activated as the auxiliary guide beam is not required.
In the alternative, it will be apparent that a medical laser unit
may be provided as a new unit with an adaptor 12 already installed.
If so, it will be apparent that auxiliary controller 120 may be
omitted and the linear actuator, auxiliary guide beam laser and
flexible wave guide detector may be directly connectible to and
operated by the main control unit. When a medical laser unit is
modified to have an adaptor 12, the software in the main control
unit may be updated accordingly.
In the above description, an embodiment is an example or
implementation of the invention. The various appearances of "one
embodiment", "an embodiment" or "some embodiments" do not
necessarily all refer to the same embodiments.
Although various features of the invention may be described in the
context of a single embodiment, the features may also be provided
separately or in any suitable combination. Conversely, although the
invention may be described herein in the context of separate
embodiments for clarity, the invention may also be implemented in a
single embodiment.
Furthermore, it is to be understood that the invention can be
carried out or practiced in various ways and that the invention can
be implemented in embodiments other than the ones outlined in the
description above.
Meanings of technical and scientific terms used herein are to be
commonly understood as by one of ordinary skill in the art to which
the invention belong, unless otherwise defined.
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